King Huai of Chu (), personal name Xiong Huai, was from 328 BC to 299 BC the king of the Chu state. King Huai succeeded his father, King Wei, who died in 329 BC. In 299 BC, King Huai was trapped and held hostage by King Zhao of Qin when he went to the Qin state for negotiation. King Huai's son, King Qingxiang, then ascended the Chu throne. King Huai managed to escape but was recaptured by Qin. Three years later, he died in captivity. One of his grandsons was later reinstated as King of Chu as the

Qin dynasty The Qin dynasty ( ) was the first Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China. It is named for its progenitor state of Qin, a fief of the confederal Zhou dynasty (256 BC). Beginning in 230 BC, the Qin under King Ying Zheng enga ...

descended into chaos, under the regnal name "King Huai of Chu".

Culture

King Huai's historical fame is especially due to the poetry of

Qu Yuan Qu Yuan ( – 278 BC) was a Chinese poet and aristocrat in the State of Chu during the Warring States period. He is known for his patriotism and contributions to classical poetry and verses, especially through the poems of the '' ...

, and other early

Classical Chinese poetry Classical Chinese poetry is traditional Chinese poetry written in Classical Chinese and typified by certain traditional forms, or modes; traditional genres; and connections with particular historical periods, such as the poetry of the Tang dy ...

, as preserved in the '' Chu ci'': particularly and seminally the poem " Li Sao" (sometimes translated as "Encountering Sorrow") is thought to reflect the political and personal relationships between Qu Yuan or the poet writing in his persona and King Huai. The main themes of "Li Sao" and the poems of the Sao genre include Qu Yuan's falling victim to intrigues in the court of Chu, his resulting exile, his desire to nevertheless remain pure and untainted by the corruption that was rife in the court, and his lamentations at the gradual decline of the once-powerful state of Chu. At the very end the poet, resigned, states his resolve to die, by drowning in the river.

In fiction and popular culture

* Portrayed by Peng Bo in '' The Qin Empire II: Alliance'' (2012). * Portrayed by Cao Zheng in '' The Legend of Mi Yue'' (2015).

Notes

References

* Hawkes, David, translation, introduction, and notes (2011 985. Qu Yuan ''et al.'', ''The Songs of the South: An Ancient Chinese Anthology of Poems by Qu Yuan and Other Poets''. London: Penguin Books. {{DEFAULTSORT:Huai of Chu, King Monarchs of Chu (state) Chinese kings 4th-century BC Chinese monarchs 296 BC deaths Year of birth unknown 3rd-century BC Chinese monarchs

Culture

In fiction and popular culture

See also

Notes

References